New Life Academy’s music program offers unique opportunities for students to develop skills and passions while building on a lifestyle of worship. Choir and Band represent two of the ways through which students are encouraged to do this. Music at NLA demonstrates how we can all use our gifts to bring glory to God while learning and developing at an individual and group level.
Choir Opportunities at NLA
Choir inspires students to come together with one another for a shared goal. Within each of our choirs, students have the opportunity to sing various songs from different styles and cultures, read music, develop great vocal techniques, and learn performance skills. Joining a choir is a great way to build relationships with people who have common interests while developing new skills and abilities.
Music is an incredible creative outlet for students. Because of this, NLA offers many ways to engage students musically.
Our Early Ed and Lower School students spend time each week in Music class, growing in both skill and knowledge. 4th and 5th graders are also invited to participate in the Joyful Noise Makers Choir — a voluntary music group that practices weekly before school and sings each week in Lower School Chapel.
Middle and Upper School students are encouraged to take Choir as an elective. Middle School students learn more about music, develop musicianship skills, and work together as a team. Upper School Choir builds on the knowledge and skill from Middle School, encouraging students to inhibit a desire for growth, a positive attitude, excellence in skill performance, and a deeper knowledge of the subject matter. Upper School Choir tours every other year.
Adonai – Adonai is an auditioned choir for 6th–8th grade students that meets before school each week.
Morningstar – Morningstar is an auditioned choir for 9th–12th grade students that meets before school each week. It is a performance-based, ministry-oriented group that performs on campus and locally. Students in Morningstar also tour every year.
Band Opportunities at NLA
Band is such a unique class in that students need to grow individually as well as a group to accomplish the challenges presented to them through their music. Students involved in band get lots of playing opportunities not just in concerts throughout the year, but also playing in pep band or in the orchestra pits for the musicals. It is always our goal for the different bands to glorify God through our performing and practicing. We want to acknowledge that God gave us our ability to play music, and we should honor Him with those gifts.
5th Grade – Each student in 5th grade takes band as a required course. They get to select which instrument to play and spend the year learning how to play, read music, and perform as a group.
Middle & Upper School – Band is offered as an elective in Middle and Upper School. Students develop individual skills while also learning to work with others in an ensemble.
Students interested in music and passionate about playing are given many opportunities to get involved. Some of these opportunities include joining the New Life Academy Pep Band, which performs at Varsity games and school-wide events, or playing in our Orchestra pit for concerts and theater performances throughout the year!
School of Fine Arts
The School of Fine Arts (SOFA) is an extension of the music program at New Life Academy. Through SOFA, students can further develop their creative talents in choral and instrumental music. Lessons are offered conveniently during the day or after school.
Rosalee Allard – Woodwinds/Voice Instructor
B.A., Music Education (Vocal & Instrumental) –
University of Northwestern, St Paul, MN
Rosalee Allard is the Band Director at New Life
Academy. She also teaches private voice, clarinet and
saxophone lessons through the Academy of Music at
UNWSP. She has also been the Music Director for
multiple community theater musicals in Maple Grove,
MN. She is passionate for all things music and she
loves sharing that passion with her students. It is her
hope that her students can learn to appreciate the
creativity of our Creator by His gifts to us through music.
Deanna Holst – Piano Instructor
University of Northwestern
Mrs. Holst has been teaching piano for over 10 years.
As a student she was a 3 time winner of the Minnesota
Music Teachers Piano Contest and completed all levels
of theory instruction and examinations. She had the
opportunity to perform as an accompanist for choirs
touring Japan, Romania, Austria and Hungary. Mrs.
Holst also served as the keyboardist and worship leader
for her church for 8 years. She enjoys teaching and
playing various styles of music, and working with
children of all ages and learning styles. She especially
loves teaching her students the details of music
performance.
Cindy Martinson – Piano, Voice, Guitar and
Ukulele Instructor, S.O.F.A. Director
B.S., Music Education/Piano Performance,
University of Northwestern
Cindy Martinson is the director of the Fine Arts Music
Program at New Life Academy. She is also the the
Director of the Woodbury Chorus and Orchestra while
maintaining a piano studio at school and home. She
teaches 6-12 grade music at NLA with High School
Choir and select groups. Cindy has been teaching all
things music for 35 years and loves to develop student’s
musical skills
Summer Waits – Violin/Viola Instructor
Bob Jones University
Summer Waits is an early childhood educator, graduate
from Bob Jones University with a minor in music that
focused on string pedagogy. She had the pleasure of
assisting the conductor of the elementary orchestra at
Bob Jones Academy for three years. She has also
played in several community orchestras and string
groups. As a Christian musician, she loves equipping
others to use music in worship. She is available to teach
beginning violin, viola, or cello, as well as intermediate
violin and viola
Sam Pederson – Trumpet Instructor
University of Northwestern
Sam has been playing trumpet for over 15 years and
has a love for music that culminates in many ways.
Graduating from the University of Northwestern, Saint
Paul with a degree in Recording Arts, he enjoyed the
opportunity to play trumpet with both the Bethel Wind
Symphony and the Northwestern Symphonic Band.
During his time there he also took courses in trumpet
performance, music theory, instrumentation, vocal
performance, and piano. Currently, Sam serves as the
Director of Live Productions at New Life Academy
where he enjoys using his musical background to help
bring live events to life. Sam is excited to teach both
beginner and experienced trumpet players.